EXCLUSIVE: After taking his time in finding his next big role after winning this years best actor Oscar, Brendan Fraser looks to have zeroed in on that role as sources tell Deadline he is set to star in Searchlight’s Rental Family. Beef helmer Hikari will direct from a script she co-wrote with Stephen Blahut. Hikari has been developing the project since 2019 and will produce along with Shin Yamaguchi as well as Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen Productions.
The story follows follows a down and out actor living in Tokyo, who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental family company, leading him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery through the roles he plays in other people’s lives.
Production is set to start this spring in Japan. Blahut and Tomo Koizumi will exec produce. SVP of Production Taylor Friedman and Manager of Creative Affairs Daniel Yu are overseeing the pic for Searchlight.
Fraser is having himself quite the career renaissance over the last year that began with his work in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale. The role would win a number of accolades, culminating with this years best actor Oscar. While the SAG strike caused a delay in his decision, Fraser was still still very patient in making a decision on what his next role would be post-Oscar win even prior to the strike going into effect. When this script finally came his way, it was hard for him to pass, ultimately committing to star.
Even by being patient, he finds himself in another award season darling with his most recent film Killers of the Flower Moon bowing last month and instantly joining the field as one of this years best picture contenders.
He is repped by CAA, Linden Entertainment and Felker Toczek Suddleson.
